Minister Glover Announces Support for Arts and Culture in Francophone Minority Communities

OTTAWA, Sept. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of
Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, took the opportunity while
attending the Zones théâtrales Festival to announce the renewal of the
Collaboration Agreement for the Development of Arts and Culture in the
Francophone Minority Communities of Canada for 2013-2018.

"It is our official languages and our arts and culture that bring us all
together," said Minister Glover. "They help shape our identity and
allow us to share our stories across the country. French and English
are an integral part of our history, our identity and our future."

The Agreement aims to provide a framework for cooperation and dialogue
between Francophone minority communities, represented by the Fédération
culturelle canadienne-française and the signatory federal institutions
(the Department of Canadian Heritage, the National Arts Centre, the
Canada Council for the Arts, the National Film Board of Canada,
CBC/Radio-Canada and Telefilm Canada). It encourages the development of
Canada's Francophone and Acadian minorities and promotes their
contribution to our country's cultural and artistic richness.

"This agreement is an indispensable means of ensuring the vitality of
French-Canadian artists and cultural workers, as it stems from the
recognition that the arts and culture are at the heart of an efficient
sustainable development strategy for Francophone and Acadian
communities," said Marie-Claude Doucet, President of the Fédération
culturelle canadienne-française. "The Agreement helps establish a much
needed dialogue to be established between communities and government
institutions, and—more concretely—it allows for the development of
initiatives that will help create a conducive climate for artistic
creation and cultural community development across the country."

"Radio-Canada plays an active role in developing the arts and culture of
Francophone minority communities," said Louis Lalande, Executive
Vice-President of French Services for CBC/Radio-Canada. "This
Agreement, which we first signed in 2000, provides a powerful means of
supporting the development of new and productive initiatives. The
partners' ongoing commitment, confirmed today with the announcement of
renewal of the Agreement, will contribute to the advancement of the
Francophone culture across the country. We welcome this news."

A first agreement for the development of French-Canadian arts and
culture was signed in June 1998. It has since been renewed, with
additional partners becoming signatories. It remains in effect through
2018. The Agreement and its coordination mechanisms encourage the
presentation and promotion of French-Canadian cultural products and
artistic events, in addition to contributing to the growth and
visibility of Francophone minority communities. To view the Agreement,
consult: http://pch.gc.ca/eng/1358262728426/1358262917750

The Government of Canada unveiled the Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018 last spring. The new Roadmapfocuses on three pillars that will ensure the vitality of English and
French across Canada: education, immigration and communities. As
outlined in Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government of Canada is
renewing its unprecedented investment in the protection, promotion and
celebration of both official languages for another five years. The full
text of the Roadmap is available online at http://pch.gc.ca/pgm/slo-ols/strat-eng.cfm.